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UK weather: Temperatures hit 31°C as forecasters say we're on course for hottest August in five years
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- Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire due to see warmest weather
- Forecast to be the hottest weekend of the year so far... and the hottest August since 2008
- Met Office say the mercury could rise above yesterday's high of 32.4C
- But revellers at V-Festival in Staffordshire get soaked by rain
- Midlands could see localised flooding as thunder and lightning is predicted
By Tamara Cohen
PUBLISHED: 10:29 EST, 16 August 2012 | UPDATED: 13:46 EST, 19 August 2012
While many were reapplying the suncream again today others were digging out their brollies as the country saw a mixed bag of weather.
Sun worshipers flocked to beaches such as Littehampton in Sussex and South Shields in Tyneside to make the most of the high temperatures, but in the Midlands the warm whether was displaced by rain.
At the V-Festival in Chelmsford revellers donned ponchos so they could continue enjoying the live music.
But while most refused to let the bad weather get in the way of their fun, X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos was quick to complain as the skies opened as she began her set.
As lightning struck, Tulisa told fans: 'Look at this bloody British weather.'
By the end of her performance, however, the sun had returned. Tulisa played at the V-Festival's the split-site's sister venue in Weston Park, Staffordshire on Saturday - which also saw rain today.
Scroll down for video
Reserve your spot: Sun worshippers enjoy the weather at the beach in Littlehampton West Sussex today
Singing in the rain: Revellers were still enjoying the live music at the V-Festival in Chelmsford, Essex, despite the downpour
Massive crowds swamp Brighton beach today to catch a hint of the sunny weather
Spirit dampener: X-Factor judge Tulisa bemoaned the 'bloody British weather' as the rain came down as she performed at the V-Festival in Chelmsford today
As England battled to stay in the final test against South Africa at Lords grey clouds loomed over the home of cricket.
The Met office were anticipating heavy rainfall and hail across the Midlands this afternoon with the possibility of localised flooding on the sun-baked dry ground.
However, in other parts of the
country the outlook was much brighter. The Met Office say the mercury
may yet top the 32.4C peak recorded in Cavendish, Sussex, yesterday
making it the new hottest day of the year and even more likely that this
could be the warmest August on record.
Lapping it up: A sun worshipper soaks up some afternoon rays on Brighton beach today
Out in force: Brighton beach did not take long to fill out when the sun made an appearance this weekend
The south and east saw the best temperatures with Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and Suffolk likely to compete to claim the title of hottest spot in UK.
In the capital it was not as warm as yesterday but temperatures were still expected to reach the high twenties or low thirties.
However, it is not all good news as storms are also on the horizon for some parts of the Midlands this afternoon.
Racing for the beach: Cars queue on the A23 as people head to Brighton this lunchtime to soak up the sunshine
Soaking it up: The beach in Littlehampton, West Sussex was rammed with people trying to make the most of the sweltering temperatures
Sand sculptor: Two year old Isabella Atherton enjoys a trip to the beach to make sandcastles this morning in South Shields, South Tyneside, as Britain basks in glorious sunshine this weekend
Sand child: Darcey Bishop (eight) makes the most of the beautiful weather as she runs through the sand at Frensham, Surrey
Ominous: Dark clouds are seen as rain delays play during the Third Investec Test Match at Lord's Cricket Ground
Wet revellers: After yesterday's sunshine the weather turned bad at the V-Festival in Weston Park, Staffordshire, today
Jumping for joy: It has been so hot this weekend that these albino Bennett's wallabies still need factor 50 suncream to protect them from harmful rays
Met Office spokesman Emma Sharples said: 'There could be sharp heavy thundery showers across parts of the west Midlands, moving eastwards.
'However, it's also possible that we may well get a new hottest day of the year in the south.'
There
were plenty of people soaking up the rays on Bournemouth beach in
Dorset with roads heading to the resort becoming busy with traffic and
sea front car parks were full by mid-morning.
Along the seven miles of sand were thousands of deck chairs and sunloungers and beach huts were opened up along the promenade.
There were plenty of people cooling off in the sea that was a pleasant 18C.
The pier and gardens were busy with walkers and so was the nearby New Forest and Purbeck hills.
Other resorts in the county, such as Swanage and Sandbanks, were also packed with sunseekers.
In Bournemouth, Kelly James, 32, and husband Matt, 34, were two of the estimated 80,000 people on the beach.
They
were there with their daughter Sophie, six. Kelly, from Alton,
Hampshire, said: 'We had to come down when we heard it was going to be
sunny.
'We left early but the roads were already busy, but it was worth it because it is hot and the sea is very refreshing.
Flower power: Six-year-old Olivia Symes plays hide and seek amongst the Hydrangea in the sunshine at Victoria Park, in Portsmouth
Geronimo! David Greenwood and Kieron Watkins failed to get a lift from Pegasus as they took part in the International Birdman Festival at Worthing
Nice look: Party goers at the V-Festival in Staffordshire refuse to let the sudden change in the weather ruin their final day
kicking back: Taking a break from partying these festival goers in Staffordshire could quite work out the weather as they kicked back on deckchairs in their ponchos
Ice
cream salesman Geoff MacLaren said: 'we've not had enough days like
this, and every time it looks good the spell never lasts.
'Nothing now will make up for all the rain we've had, but a good end to August would certainly help.'
But
emergency services have urged members of the public to take sensible
precautions while enjoying the weather after a man died after being
rescued from the sea near Westcliff on Sea in Essex this morning.
Ambulance
service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: 'Prior to our arrival, a man who
we believe to be in his 40s was pulled out of the sea and was being
cared for by an off duty nurse.
'Paramedics continued to treat and stabilise the patient before he was taken to a waiting medical team at Southend Hospital.'
Essex Police said that the man had died in hospital and officers were trying to contact next of kin.
It came as more than 200 revellers had to be treated for minor injuries by medical teams after trips,
Early indications suggest the dry, warm weather will last into the early part of next week before temperatures drop.
Yesterday the sweltering conditions meant a strength-sapping start for footballers as the new Premier League season started.
Four London Premier League clubs - Arsenal, West Ham, Fulham and QPR - were at home as temperatures in the capital hovered close to 30C.
The heat could put August this year on course to be hotter than the same periods in the last three years.
In the traditional holiday destination of Blackpool Demi Brookes, nine, and sister Chelsea Brookes 11 decide to sit out the rain
The sun never came out in West Yorkshire, instead the region was hit by torrential showers. Emily Attack (21) had a good time making the most of the dismal weather in the Bradford City Water Park
In 2011 the average temperature for the month was just 14C with a high of 30.3C - below what is expected this weekend.
In 2010 the August average was 14.2C while there was a high of only 26.7C.
Again, this year's temperatures also look set to beat 2009, when the average for August was 15.4 and there was a high of 30.3C
The best temperatures last year came when parts of the UK reached 33C - hotter than Caribbean hot-spot Barbados and Miami, Florida. The year went on to be the second warmest on record.
But the trend didn't continue this year, with months of wet weather and flood warnings turning spring and early summer into a dreary washout.
This week has seen rain and wind batter the west of England and Wales, because of an unseasonal patch of low pressure.
On Friday, a severe weather warning was in force as an inch of rain fell on
northern and western areas, with some surface water flooding on the
roads in low lying areas of Devon, Cornwall and Wales.
Eastern areas have had a better week with sunshine and some showers, and temperatures have reached the mid-20s (mid-70s).
It was a good day for shopping in Centenary Square, in Braford
Keeping up the Olympic spirit: These revellers at Weston Park in Staffordshire donned Union Jack flags to keep the rain at bay
Prepared: This festival goer mixed the wellies and raincoat with leopard skin patterned shorts and a boob tube
It will be extremely humid, with
temperatures reaching 28C (82F), and the mercury will keep rising
as hot air seeps in from continental Europe.
Gemma
Plumb, of Meteogroup, said: ‘There is a small chance of showers on
Sunday in western areas, but the low pressure is on the way out and for
most places it will be dry and very warm.’
Research
revealed yesterday that hay fever sufferers have endured the longest
spell of high pollen counts in two decades, thanks to the wet spring and
topsy turvy summer.
The warm weather and clear blue skies are set to stay until early next week
BEACH CROWD STOP IN THEIR TRACKS AS GREAT WHITE APPEARS IN SKY
Shark in the sky: Shocked Matt Barnes felt a sense of unease when he spotted a cloud in the shape of a Great White, complete with distinctive eye, fin, and menacing open jaw, at the beach promenade in Hove, Sussex
This was the jaws-dropping moment a cloud in the shape of a great white shark loomed menacingly over a holiday beach.
Walkers along the promenade at Brighton, East Sussex, stopped in their tracks to gaze at the sky and stare at the mass of white cloud that looked uncannily like the killer shark.
Quick-thinking Matt Barnes was able to take a photograph of the incredible sight on his iPhone.
In his picture, the shark’s
distinctive nose and open jaws are apparent, along with a
darker, circular patch representing an eye.
Although the body is perhaps a little fluffy for a shark, it does also bear a dorsal fin.
Matt, 30, said he was stunned by the unusual cloud.
He said: 'I was walking back from the beach with my girlfriend Jackie and our baby son Albie when I spotted the cloud.
'I said: "that’s a funny looking cloud, it looks like a shark". I took a picture of it on my phone and when I looked back at it, I couldn’t believe just how much it looked like Jaws. The head is a dead-ringer.
'The cloud definitely has the head of a great white shark and it looks like it is looming out of the sky and about to attack the beach.'
Video: Londoners enjoy the sunny weather
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